Planning for winter weather

Important information about weather-related cancellations and closures

Campus and Community

Nov. 28, 2016

Memorial University has a plan for keeping you informed when the inevitable weather-related cancellations and closures happen.

Since Memorial is a residential institution, it is our priority to continue key operations and services for students who live on campus, even during an emergency like extreme weather.

How the decision is made

When bad weather hits and safety is a concern, the decision to cancel classes and labs or to close the St. John’s and Marine Institute campuses is made by the university president (or his designate).

The president gets advice from a number of university units, particularly Facilities Management, which is in close contact with Environment Canada and the provincial Department of Transportation and Works, as weather systems develop.

Likewise, in Corner Brook, the vice-president (Grenfell Campus) or her designate makes the decision in consultation with Facilities Management (Grenfell Campus).

Keeping you informed

The university doesn’t close except under unusual circumstances. But in the event of severe weather or other emergencies when Memorial has to cancel classes or close, information will be available through a variety of communications channels. And with a community of more than 18,000 students and more than 5,000 faculty and staff, the university aims to get the word out fast.

This year, St. John’s closures will also be shared via MUN Safe, a new mobile phone app for Apple and Android devices.

In St. John’s, when closures happen midway through the day, information is shared via the Gazette, mun.ca, social media (@MemorialU on Twitter and Memorial University on Facebook) and via Newsline email. The student unions and key university units, such as the Library and the Works, are notified by phone.

Memorial will no longer post university-wide closures or delayed openings to the Cancellations page on www.mun.ca. The Cancellations page will be used for individual class cancellations only.

Information is also communicated to the news media for public broadcast.

A new tool

This year, St. John’s closures will also be shared via MUN Safe, a new mobile phone app for Apple and Android devices. For more information about MUN Safe, including how to download it, please visit www.mun.ca/munsafe.

Timing of announcements

Early closings during daytime will be announced at least one hour in advance.

Advisories for late openings and all-day closures will be issued by 7 a.m. In addition to contacting the media and posting information to the above-listed channels, early morning phone calls are made directly to the heads of key university units.